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Lisa Wei '26 < Back Geekin' at speakin' Lisa Wei '26 May 5, 2023 On Saturday, April 29, the Mercersburg community gathered in the Edwards Room for the Spring Spoken Word event, a Mercersburg tradition where students, faculty, and even alumni come together to hear performances of poetry, song, and verse. Michele Poacelli, English Department Head, Writing Center Director, and one of the organizers of the evening, said, “Spoken Word is a great opportunity for members of our community to come out and express themselves through storytelling, poetry, and music.” She really enjoys how the Mercersburg community provides opportunities for these acts of expression, whether they be through rehearsed performances, such as the Spring Band Concert or a relaxed show like Spoken Word. “Seeing students coming out to showcase their raw talent is such an amazing act …especially since Spoken Word is an unrehearsed show, we get to see more of the authentic side of the performance,” Poacelli said. Poacelli described the considerations of the planning. “The weather wasn’t really great this Saturday, so we planned to have Spoken Word take place indoors. However, the atmosphere and the vibe was still great. It’s also really exciting because Luther Kissam, a Mercersburg alumnus, came to host and read some of his own poems for Spoken Word,” she said. Luther Kissam V, a poet and writer, graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 2018. “I thought that there were so many unbelievable performances, and it was really rewarding seeing all the talent at Mercersburg this Spoken Word,” said Kissam. Along with hosting the event, Kissam performed two original poems, one of which came from his book, Have I Told You About My Superpowers , and the other one he wrote in his senior year about his high school girlfriend. “When Ms. Poacelli asked me if I’d read, I agreed right away. I also wanted to make people feel comfortable up here, seeing ‘Oh, he’s doing it, so I’ll do it too.’” Kissam said. There were many performances that night, ranging from exciting poems to heartfelt songs. “I wanted other people to see what I create,” said Avallina Orfield ‘25, who sang her original song, “Untitled.” Fynn Poulsen ‘26, shared his poetry. “I really enjoy sharing the poetry that I write, and Spoken Word is a great opportunity to do that,” he said. The crowd was thrilled when Mikahel Martínez-Archo ‘25 performed an original song. “I was really nervous because it was the first time I sang to a microphone. However, I felt more confident when all my friends shouted my name and reassured me in the beginning,” he says. Adam Mardini ‘24 dedicated his guitar piece to his friend who was unable to join him that night due. “I have wanted to play the song ‘Comfortably Numb’ by Pink Floyd for a really long time. This was the perfect opportunity for me to share my music,” he says. English teacher Ryan Tyree and Coco Zhai ‘24 sang a duet on “I’m with You” by Avril Lavigne. “It was a great opportunity to collaborate with students and continue playing music,” said Tyree. The audience really enjoyed the Spoken Word program. “It’s probably one of my favorite events that Mercersburg does. I just love seeing my classmates showcase their talents in writing, singing, and playing instruments,” says Greta Lawler ‘23. “I came over because I love to support my amazing friends, who are all super talented,” said William Tutt ‘25. Previous Next

The Blue Storm football team is off to a great start. So far they are 3-1 on the season, their only loss coming against Maryland School for the Deaf in an away game. Two weeks ago, during Family < Back MacInnis Haris Yahaya '24 Mar 20, 2023 The Blue Storm football team is off to a great start. So far they are 3-1 on the season, their only loss coming against Maryland School for the Deaf in an away game. Two weeks ago, during Family and Alumni Weekend, the Storm played their eight-man rival Perkiomen School, winning 38-18. A stand out from that game was senior running back Ryan Maclnnis ’23, who rushed for five touchdowns and four two-point conversions scoring a career high 36 points and setting a school record. Head Coach Andy Brown commented on Maclnnis’ game, saying, “One of the reasons someone can have such a standout or record-breaking game like Ryan is because everyone else shows up and does their job. The linemen do their job, the quarterback makes the right reads, the defense stops the other team and gets the ball back to the offense. While one may get the accolades of a touchdown and stuff, it’s definitely a team effort.” The Mercersburg News sat down with MacInnis to ask him about the team and his football career. When did you start playing football? I started playing my sixth grade year going into middle school. I started out playing the safety and running back positions. What enabled you to play so well in the game against Perk? Honestly I don’t really know. My line just played really well. I had blocks and got to see the whole field. All I had to do was run. They opened everything up for me. What was your mindset going into that game? Honestly I was thinking about all the time I missed last year due to injury. I felt like I had a little bit of something to prove, and I felt like I kinda knew the team needed me to play my role to the best of my ability. So I came in with a lot of confidence, so honestly while playing the game, I wasn’t really thinking; I was just having fun. What's your favorite part of football? I think the bus rides back from a win, as well as the bus rides to a game, are so much fun. Everyone kinda just messing around, loud music, especially on the long road trips when it’s dark and everyone’s awake. Just good energy. Where does your passion for the game come from? I always grew up loving sports, always watched football and baseball with my dad, and as I got older, my love only grew. The teammates and coaches I've met have helped me to keep pushing that passion, kept inspiring me and motivating me to keep playing and always do better. Who is your role model? I would say my dad. Me and him are very alike. He kinda tries to push me to do the right thing and tries to make me think things through before I do them. He inspires me to be more like him, and not be as stubborn and as stupid as I can be sometimes. What are some areas of your game that you can improve on? For me a big thing I need to work on is, while playing a good team, just kind of hold back and not try to take over the game and trust that everyone will do their job. I missed making some short plays by jumping the gun when trusting my blocks, that just comes with some film study. Are you looking foward to anything coming up in the season?: I enjoy every practice, I enjoy every game. Kind of don’t want the season to end but I look forward to every day, the coaches and players we have. It’s the highlight of my day every day. The Blue Storm is currently in a bye week and plays its next game away at Delaware County Christian School and ends its regular season at home against Valley Forge Military Academy. The Storm is looking to keep its momentum going into the Keystone Football League playoffs starting on November 5. Previous Next

Avery Liu '25 < Back Addie's album: finding her fire Avery Liu '25 Oct 4, 2024 Addie Heldman ‘25 recently dropped her long-anticipated EP (extended play). The drop included 4 original songs with full lyrics. Heldman’s style of music blends pop and folk to create a unique sound. She counts among her influences Lorde and Billie Eilish as well as music from her childhood. She said, “I draw a lot of inspiration from the music I listened to growing up, like Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones. A lot of Bluegrass, because my dad is super into that. So that sort of Bluegrass feel with my teenage girl pop self.” Heldman described her creative process. “Sometimes I write songs about a feeling. Sometimes I write songs about an experience. Other times it's more like a vision I have, like an image that I can see in my head,” she said, “or it’s dreams, like I’ll wake up in the middle of the night all the time with a song lyric in my head.” Only recently has she moved to make her music public. “I decided I wanted to take it to the next level because my songs were getting more serious.” Heldman’s musical family members helped her take her compositions to a more professional place. “I’m really lucky to have such great support, like my sisters,” she said. “So luckily, I have a pretty creative family so my sister, who’s a director, helped me figure out how to find a producer, and we went from there.” She also described how they assisted her during her endeavor. “Both my sisters are really talented musicians, my sister Lillith really helped me with the harmonies. She didn’t sing in any of the songs with me but she would stand in the booth pointing up or down for how high or low I should go which was super helpful.” The grueling process of recording the songs involved dedication and hard work. “It was tough,” Heldman said, “It was a four-day recording process, at least 10 hours a day in the studio, singing, and singing, and singing, and playing guitar until my fingers were almost bleeding.” The physical process wasn’t the only hurdle Heldman encountered. “I mean being vulnerable with people is tough.” She said, “I don’t want people to be, you know, worried about me if they perceive a song in a way that makes me seem a certain way. But I think being vulnerable is good and bad for me.” To those listening to her songs, Heldman has a message. “I want my listeners to know that it's for them,” Heldman said. “It’s for people to feel seen because we're living in sort of a tough time right now where the world is feeling pretty complicated. I want to express my unique experiences and then have people feel seen and validated and that's my goal for my songs.” Emphasizing the support system around her, Heldman said, “My parents have always been big inspirations for me, and given me such good [a] good taste in music, and my friends for streaming the songs over and over again. So that’s great and I’m lucky to have them all.” Heldman’s full songs are currently released on Bandcamp and she plans to release the songs in the near future once a week on other streaming platforms including Spotify. Previous Next

Ben Pham ‘27 < Back “Thirds” time’s the charm Ben Pham ‘27 Oct 11, 2024 Last Saturday, the Blue Storm girls varsity tennis team played against The Lawrenceville School, finishing the day with a 0-7 loss. Despite the defeat, head coach Mike Sweeney remained optimistic, noting, “Our team is doing pretty well. In terms of wins and losses, we’re now 4-3; we’ve picked up two wins in MAPL, which is really good. We’ve beaten Pennington and Hun with a close loss to Blair. In terms of Lawrenceville, their tennis team is really good, so we didn’t have much of a shot yesterday since they’re battling for the MAPL Championships.” This season, the team has expanded to 47 players, a number that can be challenging to manage, but, as Sweeney said, “Our captains, Hisano Enomoto ’25, Mogere Nyakoe ’25, and Cate Doughterty ’25, are doing a good job of leading the kids and practice has been really productive.” He added, “Also, we have five boys that are helping us as managers this season and those guys really do fill a lot of needs. If we need to have someone work with somebody, we can have the boys come and help, or they’ll help us run drills. Having something like that works really well.” Beyond the varsity squad, the tennis program has added a thirds team and two new assistant coaches. The JV team is now headed by Coach Ken Craig, whose creativity and enthusiasm keep practices upbeat. Reese Alter ’26 remarked, “He’s introduced a lot of fun games for us, which I think is fun, and he focuses a lot on doubles and teaching us how to play and teaching us how to communicate with each other.” In an interesting anecdote, Shelly Shen ’26 said, “Since Mr. Craig had a free block before practice, he came [to practice] with a lot of ideas that he wanted to experiment with. This shows us that he loves running the practice with us, and even in our games, Mr. Craig cares a lot about our overall performance. He often goes around making sure everyone gets feedback and encouragement; in general, he’s contributed a lot to the unity of the team.” The introduction of the thirds team offers a more accessible entry point for beginners. Coach Kathleen Su, who has coached boys JV tennis for three years, now leads the team. Like the other coaches, Su also believes splitting the team has strengthened the program. Su explained, “When you pit beginners up against varsity players, there's a certain factor of intimidation from the varsity players. Having three teams allows you to play against someone at your skill level, which allows more opportunities for growth as well as having fun.” Tiana Lee ’25 agreed, noting, “I think she definitely tried to make it more recreational so that players can fully enjoy the process and the sport in general.” The new thirds team allows inexperienced players more opportunities for growth at a slower pace in a more personalized program. Ellie Yang ’27 said, “Coach Su was really kind, she didn’t judge a lot of us beginners. I wasn’t really good when I started so she gave me a personalized training plan, which included drills that I should work on and how to adapt to tennis based on my previous experiences with other sports. I feel like I improved a lot in just a month!” Looking ahead, Coach Su’s goals are simple but impactful. She said, “Ultimately, the goal is to have fun and improve. I want these girls to keep playing and maybe even make it to the varsity team someday.” Next week, the varsity team faces Georgetown Day on Wednesday, followed by a critical match against MAPL-rival Hill. Coach Sweeney is focused on the weekend’s challenge, and he has high hopes for the team. "We have Hill on Saturday, which I feel is another opportunity to pick up a third MAPL victory that we’re really aiming for this weekend,” Sweeney said. Previous Next

Rhiannon Myhre ‘25 < Back A timeless shopping experience Rhiannon Myhre ‘25 Jan 26, 2024 Most students are familiar with the big names in town spots: McDonald's, Subway, and Rutters. However, Mercersburg is also home to many fantastic, community-fostering local businesses. Some have been around for generations, and others are just getting their start. These businesses are essential to the community, aid the local economy, and promote events like Town Fest and Springfest, and all play a vital role in the friendly and welcoming culture of the town. However, this is only possible with the efforts of people like Renee Kelly, Corbin Kelly's ‘24 mom. Kelly recently opened an antique shop in the heart of town featuring a unique, diverse catalog of pre-Civil War items. The store is called Hour and Glass, located at 19 North Main Street. Kelly stated, "Following our passions led us to open our business. Combined with our dreams, probably the most significant reason is we love Mercersburg and we wanted to make a contribution in hopes of boosting the downtown. I'm kind of a daydreamer and dreamt of eventually becoming a hip little spot to find vintage swag." Kelly doesn't run her business by herself; with the help and support of her husband, Will LaFond, it has been a team effort. "My husband would tell you he enjoys finding, fixing, and sharing interesting items. His background is rooted in early American history, antiques, and architecture. He absolutely loves teaching people something new any time you meet him." If you are interested in a shop marked by an eclectic aesthetic and charm, featuring collectibles from antique clocks to custom stained glass, this is your go-to store. Kelly has many hopes for the store and the items she hopes to sell shortly. "There's lots of people who are wanting to make downtown even more fun and inviting. It would be great to hear what's sought after. Like, would somebody please sell boba tea!?!" Next time you go out for a McDonald's or Rutters run, stop by Hour and Glass on your way and check out the amazing work that Kelly and her family are doing. Previous Previous Next Next

Caroline Hobbs ’22 and Justin Oh ’25 < Back The State of the School Caroline Hobbs ’22 and Justin Oh ’25 With the recent Board of Regents meeting in New York City in mind, The Mercersburg News interviewed Head of School Quentin McDowell and Associate Head of School Jennifer Craig to assess the state of the school mid-year and review the school’s long-term ambitions. Topics of discussion included DEI, faculty turnover, the new boarding school admissions landscape, defining school culture, faculty committees, and connecting with the local borough community. Mercersburg News: What can you tell us about the recent Board of Regents meeting in New York? Jennifer Craig: When we're talking about big changes to the school or governance of the dollars of the school or things like that, that is what that meeting is about. We talked about financial sustainability; we have some campus planning going on for different parts of the infrastructure; there was a gender task force and a section of the meeting where we were talking about gender inclusivity. We talked a lot about PGAs; there was a significant increase in the number of PGAs at one point because of COVID. [We asked,] 'Should [PGAs] be called that? Do we have the right ones? Are we offering what we should be offering to our students? What is the intentionality behind our programming?' MN: How has school culture changed because of COVID? How is the school attempting to restore or improve its culture? QM: I think that culture is directly tied to your individual experience. During the pandemic, only 70 of our students had had a full year here, uninterrupted. That's a fraction of our students, so obviously, the culture did weaken. From the little things like picking up trash and holding doors but to larger issues as well. Our culture should be that we see and appreciate the differences and the value that each one of us brings in terms of what we have done. So how do we make sure that we foster culture? One way is listening to students, so I meet with [student council executives] Ruby [Shang ’24] and Jordan [Yuan ’24] regularly now. We are also looking at policy ideas, such as behavior, the point system, the check-in and check-out policy, and we are trying to create a way for students to have sleepovers. MN: How has the administration been attempting to address the change in school culture following COVID? How has the community evolved over the past four years since COVID? What efforts have been taken to restore that loss of culture? JC: I am going to talk about schools more [broadly] because this is only my second year, and it is hard for me to talk about pre-/during COVID. I was at a different school in a different country during that time. Yet, one thing I have learned… working at schools in four different countries [is that] students and adolescents worldwide need to be loved first and challenged second. Risk-taking is part of the developmental growth of adolescence. There was such fear that gripped the world during that time, so adolescents weren't able to take the safe risks they would have. That risk is almost the defining factor. If you think evolutionarily—my background is in biology—humans have the longest care period from being a fertilized egg to being independent, so what you do during that time is important. Adolescence is a stage of risk-taking, so a person can be a truly developed being. All the teaching that needs to happen to let an adolescent take important risks [was lacking during COVID] . So now, some of the fear that was rampant during that time is still with us. Already, adolescence is a time when you think, "Don't stand out," because you want to be a part of something, but the whole point of going to the next step is stepping out, sticking out, being distinctive, and being focused and going for something even if it takes more work or is a little risky or shows you something different, so [our job] is helping and challenging kids [push] farther than their comfort zone. I believe in the power of education to transform lives. If a school can't push and challenge kids to think beyond what they were before they got here, it's not transformative [enough]; we are going back to a moment of transforming kids. MN: How does the school intend to continue to nurture its relations with the town and people of Mercersburg? Why do you think it is important that the Academy work to strengthen its relationship with the surrounding community? QM: Here's one thing I will say: there is no Mercersburg Academy without Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. It’s really important to remember that we all own homes in the community and that we pay taxes and do all those things, you know, the practical stuff. We also have this whole area of financial support where we help with emergency services and the fire department and help with the community playground in the summer. I think as we consider the future, it's about building actual relationships, people-to-people. So I've been meeting with the superintendent, I have a meeting coming up with the Water Authority. I've met with a vibrancy committee chair. We now have somebody on the Chamber of Commerce Board, [Director of Executives Services] De-Enda Rotz. I meet regularly with the mayor of Mercersburg. We can be partnering on My Neighbor's Bounty and helping our local food pantry. Dreaming about the future, we may take on a Habitat for Humanity project with students from the high school, but do it in a way that doesn't act like we're helping. It should feel like we're coming together. MN: What do you make of the recent developments in the DEI Office? How has the Office been making strides? Where does the community have room to improve in fulfilling its DEI goals? QM: At schools, I don't think that there is ever wasted energy around equity and inclusion. And I think that what has been really wonderful over the past couple of years is drummed hot or desired intentions to make our community more equitable and more inclusive, [such as the] creation of affinity spaces. We see a lot of work done to influence programming much of which [comes from both] students and adults. Oftentimes it's not visible, but it's happening in the background to make sure that we're considering how to create a more equitable curriculum and how to generate the kinds of conditions necessary to feel a sense of inclusion and belonging, so I'm really happy with the work today. I think it is a horizon-chasing endeavor, meaning that we'll never arrive. I'm happy with where we are, but if we are still here a year from now, I won't be happy. I think we always have to be continually working on it and making progress, and that might be our neurodivergent thinkers, our international students, considering LGBTQIA+ community, right? How do we make sure all of our marginalized and more vulnerable segments of our community feel engaged and included? MN: How do you see the inaugural year of the Civic Engagement Committee panning out? What are your future ambitions for the Committee? Are there any other faculty committees you wish to discuss? JC: To me, we have this phrase, “individual humility and collective pride,” the phrase that I hope comes through civic engagement. The humility piece means we listen deeply to our community members and work on the voices in our lives. We work on those skills so that we come into this inaugural year openhearted and think about what it means to be a part of a community. There is training that the faculty and staff will be doing on deep listening. We go into groups, tell stories, and conduct floor-like interviews.… [W]hat I more concretely think we are going to be doing is students will have a certain curriculum within a certain class. The group is also interested in getting out the vote. There will likely be parts of getting out into the community as well. MN: Where is Mercersburg planning to improve its infrastructure? What does the timeline currently shaping up to look like? What measures are being taken to ensure future infrastructure endeavors are environmentally friendly and sustainable? QM: This year we finished a campus master plan, which essentially outlines what we believe needs to happen. We believe that we need a new Science and Technology Center. We also recognize that at some point we're gonna need a new dormitory, and the new dormitory will allow us again to get into our other dorms and start doing the work that needs to be done in those dorms. And then we know that from a community perspective, our dining hall and our kitchen needs to be updated. In particular, it goes back to the DEI work and that sense of inclusion and community and connection and culture. We really need to be investing in food and in the food experience for our students. Every time we go in and look at a new building or the renovation of an existing space, we also ask ourselves…: Can we take some square footage away? Can we add square footage? And how do we do that efficiently and sustainably? That is by making sure that the architects we work with are certified with LEED and other environmental certifications, which we have made sure of. Another part of the process is that we are also doing a study about the power plant for the whole school and how we get all of our electricity. How do we get heat and air and gas and all of that? We're doing a full study to understand what it is that we do now. We're also looking at solar arrays. What would that look like? What it would take to tap into our own water sources instead of using refined water from the tap? MN: How can the school address the recent widespread faculty turnover? Is this a new development, and if so how do you wish to address it? QM: I don't know that I would categorize it as widespread faculty turnover. The main reason for the large turnover in previous years was due to the pandemic. On the one hand it's really hard for me because we're losing great people that I believe in and want to have here, but on the other hand we are following a lot of national trends that education was hard hit by the pandemic. It was a really difficult stressful time for teachers and educators. And so a lot of people are looking for other opportunities outside of education and other schools. I think that's calmed down quite a bit with a very normal year of turnover last year. I'm hoping and predicting a more normal year. It has forced us to think about our recruitment and retention efforts. I think that the quality of life for educators is paramount. It means that our educators are happy, healthy and balanced. So I've done a lot of things like investing heavily in housing, making sure that we're really making the homes work. How are we really doing a lot to think about compensation? And how do we show the really generous compensation of a place like Mercersburg? …Right now we take on a lot. How can we allow people to focus less energy on fewer things? I think that would really benefit the teachers and help create a more joyful environment for our students. MN: With Mercersburg Class of ’27 having a record low admission rate, how has Mercersburg been adapting to the more competitive admissions landscape? QM: I think it's a balance, wanting to continue to have an elevated perception in the marketplace, right? We want Mercersburg to be a school that's desirable, but we are not a pressure cooker. How do we be exclusive while still being inclusive? And I think what our balance is always going to be is making sure that we're not compromising on the type of students that we take. We love to have a well-rounded student body of kids who contribute to the whole community in different ways—academically, athletically and artistically, and with extracurriculars. A low acceptance rate also allows us to make sure that we're taking students that we really want and who we think this is gonna be the best possible place to live. I think every student deserves a chance to go to a school like Mercersburg. But I would also say that we know the students that we can do the most with… we’re able to be a little bit more discerning in the application process. MN: Do you have any final remarks for the Mercersburg community for the remainder of the school year? Any advice? Any words of encouragement? I would say just remember that although the winter seems long, long winter weekend is coming up and Irving-Marshall Week is also coming, so I encourage you to work hard until then. Previous Next

Maddie Chu '27 < Back Expanding administration Maddie Chu '27 Mercersburg Academy administrators are in the process of hiring an Assistant Head of Community and Culture, a role that is meant to "combine our efforts to build an equitable and inclusive culture with the critically important work already happening in the Office of Student Life" in the next evolution of student life, according to Head of School Quentin McDowell. The assistant head will report directly to McDowell, and Jennifer Craig, Associate Head of School, will report directly to McDowell. The new hire will take on a "blending of roles" between the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee and the former Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Culture, Chris Howes. McDowell explained that this position is intended to provide strategic oversight of current student programming, ensuring that important initiatives do not get lost in the day-to-day operations. Rather than handling disciplinary matters or logistics on the ground level, the assistant head will take a broader view to guide student life from "fifteen thousand feet above." The second administrative role that Mercersburg Academy will add is a Director of Civics. McDowell expressed his hope that this position will continue to build a deep sense of inclusion and belonging while also updating the humanities and history curriculum to reflect the evolving needs of the student body. This role is designed to integrate civics more seamlessly into all aspects of student life rather than limiting it simply to traditional classroom settings or school-wide programming. The Director of Civics will help facilitate "student conversations and conversations about students," ensuring that the school's approach to civics is both meaningful and relevant. Additionally, this addition aims to prepare students to engage critically with civic issues, both inside and outside the classroom. Having a "good thought partner and strategic partner" within the institution is be crucial to advancing this work, McDowell added. He praised Allison Stephens, History Department Head, for her work in developing the framework for this endeavor and noted that she is stepping back from that role. He stressed the importance of having someone who can absorb both roles—the History Department Head and Director of Civics—to "carry that work forward." He emphasized the need for all students to have an "equally valued voice," tapping into the broader theme of "inclusion and belonging" that the school is striving to reinforce. By creating these new positions, the school hopes to build a stronger sense of community in which students feel heard, supported, and engaged. When students "feel like a part of the community," McDowell believes, they will "be more deeply invested and learn and grow more." The new leadership roles mark a step toward refining Mercersburg Academy’s approach to student life to ensure that both programming and curriculum align with the school's mission to foster an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. While the hiring process is still active, the positions represent commitment to addressing both the academic and social needs of the student body in a more structured and forward-thinking way. Previous Next

Amanda Xu '25 < Back Fall Scenes Amanda Xu '25 Sep 16, 2022 We have now completed our return to school, and Stony Batter, Mercersburg Academy’s student theater company, has wasted no time rehearsing for Fall Scenes. Fall Scenes will be performed on two dates, first during the Arts Showcase on October 1 and next on October 8, the following Saturday. Fall Scenes is a short performance of various one-act plays, often selected from bigger pieces. This year, Matt Maurer, director of arts programming, selected three scenes from the play All In The Timing to perform. Unlike prior Spring Scene productions, held in the spring, Fall Scenes is a new offering scheduled during this year’s very first Art Showcase. In the first weekend of October, Mercersburg’s Arts Showcase will exhibit many styles of art from theatre to performing vocal groups Magalia and Octet. Maurer explained, “Fall Scenes will be a part of the first ever Arts Showcase. These three scenes and also a sneak peek of Gas Light .” Gas Light , or Angel Street , is the first Stony Batter full performance, a longer play at the end of October with more rehearsals and a bigger cast. Typically, there is only one performance in the Fall, but with the addition of Fall Scenes, actors had to multitask with rehearsals for both performances. While this might seem like a daunting task, many actors do not mind the extra rehearsals, with some just explaining that they had less time for homework. New community and cast member William Tutt ‘25 said, “In my opinion, it’s just having less time to do homework, and I am fine with that because the fun I have at Stony Batter is worth the time I miss in homework.” Frances Elwood ‘23, a senior working on Fall Scenes had a different perspective on the added rehearsals. Elwood said, “It's no secret that theater can be time intensive, especially during tech week. Fall scenes offer a more relaxed, less time-heavy workload which makes life a lot easier for me as a senior. I'm already balancing class with applications, so a less stressful PGA was a must for me, but I still wanted to do Stony Batter.” Despite the approaching performance date and rehearsals, there seems to be no concern among the Stony Batter crew. Fall Scenes will take place on October 1 and again on Oct 8, so don’t miss it! Attend a performance full of comedy and wit, and support friends who are involved. In the words of Frances Elwood, “Mr. Maurer for life!” Previous Next

Lisa Wei '26 < Back Roommates 4ever Lisa Wei '26 Nov 3, 2023 As many students at Mercersburg Academy know, it is rare to maintain a harmonious relationship with your roommate… especially for four years. This year, there are three pairs of four-year roommates in the Class of 2024: Crystal Yuen and Catherine Kidd; Erika Sowah and Olivia Wetzel; and Haris Yahaya and Dave Nguyen. Many of the four-year roommate pairs suggested how communication helped with their relationship. “I think it's really important that [roommates] try to work through their differences early, and not let the small issues become problems,” said Yuen. There are other factors, such as compatibility, which help strengthen relationships between the four-year roommates. “Our personalities matched, and we both know and respect each other’s schedules,” said Nguyen. “We’re really similar and we understand each other really well,” said Wetzel. However, it is also possible to be very different and keep a harmonious relationship throughout the years.“We work together really well despite having different personalities. Like, we both like the room cold and we respect each other,” Kidd said. Spending so much time together, the roommate pairs have created many memories in the dorms over the years. “My favorite memory was probably Just Dance from last year. We played Just Dance in our room and kept bumping into each other which was really fun,” said Wetzel. Many favorite memories were made during freshman year. “During quarantine in freshman year, Crystal and I stayed up until 3 AM to write letters to our dorm. We played a lot of music and had a lot of fun. That was probably my favorite memory,” Kidd said. “I remember watching the NBA playoffs freshman year. That was fun,” said Yahaya. “My favorite first memory was probably us binge-watching the Harry Potter series in freshman year because I hadn’t watched it yet so she forced me to watch it. We probably watched like three movies that night,” said Sowah. Of course, in all roommate relationships, there is always one friend who does better on room checks than the other. “Olivia does better on room checks than me,” said Sowah, laughing as she spoke. “I definitely do better on room checks. We almost failed because of Dave last night,” Yahaya said. Previous Previous Next Next

Maria Akaras ‘24 and Erika Tso Sowah ‘24 < Back "It's only three points if I skip." --- Everyone Maria Akaras ‘24 and Erika Tso Sowah ‘24 Dec 9, 2022 In order to enforce expectations set in the Blue Book, the student handbook, Mercersburg Academy utilizes a behavior point feedback system. When a student violates one of the expectations, they are alerted by the faculty member who witnessed the violation and then later by Veracross with a notification of the points they received and why. Associate Dean of Students, Coleman Weibley, said, “Prior to the behavior point feedback system, there would be more immediate consequences for behavior issues. We felt that the system felt more punitive than we wanted it to be, so instead we decided on a point-value system so students would face consequences once they reached a certain threshold.” This change resulted from the Office of Student Life’s regular review of the feedback system and its effectiveness. “I believe that the student life team has given a lot of thought to the behavior point system and has revised it this year in response to feedback from last year. The behaviors are clearly defined and it is up to the faculty to trust in the system and log behaviors when they see them. My concern about the system is that I feel that immediate feedback is most valuable when trying to change behavior, so a log that might not get formally addressed for a day or two loses some of its meaning. However, I do understand the underlying rationale of supporting students' agency and choice and giving space to make mistakes and to then learn from them,” Jackie Sweeney, Main Hall Dorm Dean, said. The intention behind the behavior point system is crucial to understand in discussions about system’s design. Ideally, the system is a way to encourage students to adhere to the school's policies, by recognizing the patterns of a student struggling to meet the Academy’s expectations. Weibley said, “A lot of the time the Office of Student Life is seen as being more disciplinary, but we genuinely want to help students feel like they are being treated fairly.” Regarding fairness of the system, Fowle Hall dorm dean, Haley Tyree, explained, “There are multiple checks and balances to try and make the behavior point system as fair as possible. First, students are notified about the behavior point by the faculty member giving it and via email through Veracross. In that email it states that the student has 24 hours to address this point if they think it was given incorrectly. In the dorm specifically, we meet as a dorm faculty to try and set norms and expectations. I ask all of my faculty to add in a note when entering behaviors so that I can review why different things were logged and make sure we have clear documentation. At the beginning of the year, we go over rules and expectations with dorm residents and give many reminders throughout the year in dorm meetings, wing meetings and emails. Dorm faculty communicate with advisers and address students individually when we see that someone is struggling. Finally, all of the dorm deans meet regularly and have consistency checks to try and ensure that we are enforcing rules and expectations in a similar manner.” Weibley added that the consistency check is designed “to address the narrative that certain dorms are more relaxed than others to make sure that every faculty member is held to the same expectations.” The perception that some dorms are more relaxed than others is one that many students hold. Weibley said, “I know that this narrative is not the case, but being aware of the student perspective helps us address that and ensure that we are trying our best to be as consistent as possible.” Sheri Mahoney, Keil Hall Dorm Dean, adds, “What we should always be doing is working towards fairness, and I know that the residential life team is doing that. We look at the data and we talk with our faculty and show them the data. We touch base with our residents and use all of that information to make policy changes when necessary.” “If students are feeling like they are being treated unfairly in any situation for any reason, they are willing to have a conversation with the Office of Student Life or the DEI office to help find a solution. We don’t want any students to feel like they are being treated differently; we want everyone to be treated fairly. We are really big on having that egalitarian spirit and finding solutions to these perceptions,” Weibley concluded. Previous Previous Next Next

Cole Pirano ‘26 < Back Malo makes a difference Cole Pirano ‘26 Feb 2, 2024 The senior class has been hard at work in their Springboard senior capstone classes, preparing for the Capstone Expo in May. Kevin Malo '24 is using his Open Topic project to make a difference with the formerly incarcerated. Inspired by his East Jersey upbringing, he chose to pursue a project involving drug-related convictions. In his home country of Ecuador, crime and drug addiction are very present and that fact has fueled his interest in the US prison system. Malo began to explore the broader system of drug-related convictions, until a few weeks ago when he encountered Gatekeepers , an organization focused on the re-entry of the incarcerated to mainstream life. Based in Hagerstown, the home to the Maryland Correctional Institute, Gatekeepers helps ex-convicts by finding them work, paying their rent, and counseling them for as long as they desire. These measures helped the formerly incarcerated persuaded Malo to focus his project on the re-entry system for ex-convicts. Malo's beliefs on allowing ex-convicts to re-enter society are evident in his words: "It is crucial that we…give those who have made past mistakes and learned from them a second chance." With his community in mind, he attended two Gatekeepers "Resource Club" meetings with Kaori Graham-Myrie '24 and Department Head of Interdisciplinary Programs JD Bennett. Malo has been working with the leadership of Bill Gaertner, a founder and executive director of Gatekeepers, who even called Malo up to speak about his project and how he hopes it can help everyone at the meeting. Graham-Myrie marveled at the experience of seeing the Gatekeepers in action, and he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be welcomed into the sessions. Spending time at Gatekeepers has been nothing short of impactful; Malo stated, "I have heard incredible stories from former inmates who are turning their lives around. Every session is nothing short of inspirational." Malo observed that most people don't know about re-entry programs like Gatekeepers, even though the prison is only a short car ride away. For this reason, he wants to raise awareness about re-entry programs because people should know about the organizations helping people in their communities. His message that "we must tell those uncomfortable stories" is embodied in his work. Currently, Malo is building a website to raise awareness of re-entry programs and their fantastic work. His work will also raise money for three different organizations that help inmates reintegrate into society. Malo has no intention of letting his project end after his graduation and hopes that a younger student will continue his work after he graduates. Bennett, Director of the Springboard program, agrees: "I am hopeful that Kevin can inspire Mercersburg to invest time and resources in Gatekeepers in the same way we've lifted My Neighbor's Bounty. " Although Malo has found purpose in this work, his project is much larger than he is. It has unlimited potential to help some of the most vulnerable members of our society return to their communities and make valuable personal contributions. Previous Previous Next Next

Fran Garcia '26 < Back Blue Review review Fran Garcia '26 Oct 13, 2023 This year marks the 50th anniversary of Blue Review, Mercersburg’s student-run publication featuring arts and literary works by students. The Blue Review staff works to take a year’s worth of student submissions and combine them into a booklet of around one hundred pages. Originally published weekly and titled “The Sunday Evening Review,” It even featured recipes in some of its earliest publications. “ The Blue Review team works in two groups: arts and literature. Both of these collaborate in developing a theme, finding pieces, critiquing pieces, and designing/developing the book,” said Andrew Leibowitz ‘24, a member of the Blue Review team. Throughout its 50 years, Blue Review has won multiple awards with its most distinguished coming from the Columbia National Press Association. “For the past two years, and hopefully three with our newest book, we have won their highest award, the gold crown,” says Leibowitz. “ [Blue Review is] the only publication of its kind on campus,” says Bob Hollis ‘24, another Blue Review staff member. Blue Review showcases a year's worth of work, acknowledging outstanding pieces created by students. Submitting to Blue Review and seeing their work published is something that many students look forward to every year. Blue Review embraces the spirit of teamwork and community at Mercersburg, as it is a student-led organization in charge of featuring those students who go above and beyond in their creative work. For the 2023-24 school year publication, the Blue Review team is in the process of designing a theme and outlining the book’s design. Because submissions will continue to come in throughout the year, it’s hard to predict exactly how the book will look. Previous Next